"The West is facing a concerted effort by Islamic jihadists, the motives and goals of whom are largely ignored by the Western media, to destroy the West and bring it forcibly into the Islamic world -- and to commit violence to that end even while their overall goal remains out of reach. That effort goes under the general rubric of jihad."-- Robert Spencer

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Got Shari'a?

In response to 9/11, the U.S. invaded a sovereign country, overthrew its tyrannical overlords, helped rebuild the infrastructure, and stood by to wax jihadi holdouts. Bravo. But the US also permitted the new government of Afghanistan to ratify a "constitution" that snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. In relevant part:

Article 3 [Law and Religion]In Afghanistan, no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.

Article 149 [Islam, Fundamental Rights](1) The provisions of adherence to the fundamentals of the sacred religion of Islam and the regime of the Islamic Republic cannot be amended.

The Afghan government announced plans Tuesday to re-establish a Vice and Virtues Ministry, but it assured the public the office would not resemble the Taliban version that became a symbol of the brutal regime toppled by U.S. forces in 2001.

Afghanistan's powerful religious and tribal leaders have been pressing U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai to reinstate the ministry, which many considered the most powerful in the ousted Taliban government. It employed 32,000 people to enforce the Islamic zealots' bans on girls' schools, on television, on card-playing and other gambling, even on kite-flying and women's public baths.

Karim Rahimi, Karzai's spokesman, said Afghans should not be worried. "The people were scared of the Vice and Virtues Ministry under the Taliban, but this new ministry won't be like the Taliban's," Rahimi said. "It will take into consideration moral and religious activities to help improve Afghan society."

I'm so relieved. Thank goodness we didn't spend all that blood and treasure for nothing.